SLATER & GORDON SPENDS £637M ON QUINDELL’S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIVISION
Australian law firm Slater & Gordon signed a £637m deal, plus a sum contingent on client settlements, for Quindell’s professional services division. The firm expects the purchase to boost its share of the £2.5bn UK personal injury market from 5% to 12%.
A&O LOSES PARTNER TRIO TO PAUL HASTINGS
In a move to bulk up its Latin American presence, Paul Hastings hired three Allen & Overy (A&O) partners. Two were based in New York, while Bruno Soares joins from A&O’s São Paulo office and will look to open an outpost in the city for the US firm.
BLP LAUNCHES HONG KONG ARBITRATION PRACTICE
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) launched an arbitration practice in Hong Kong with the hire of a team from local boutique Haley & Co. It comprises three partners, four associates, plus a trainee and paralegal, as well as additional business support staff. On top of arbitration, the team will also strengthen the UK law firm’s real estate offering in the region.
CHICAGO’S JENNER & BLOCK SETS SIGHTS ON CITY
Jenner & Block became the latest firm to announce plans to launch in London, taking on office space in Tower 42 ahead of a launch later this year. The firm plans a full disputes presence but did not name partners moving to the City.
TAYLOR WESSING SET FOR ALL-EQUITY PARTNERSHIP
Taylor Wessing is set to convert to an all-equity partnership. The move comes after a lengthy review by a committee including managing partner Tim Eyles and following a partnership vote last month. The current two-tier partnership comprises 52 equity partners and 50 fixed-share partners.
KENNEDYS AND MORGAN LEWIS BUILD PRESENCE IN SINGAPORE
Both Kennedys and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius made moves into Singapore with the former entering into a joint venture with local firm Legal Solutions to bulk up its existing presence. Morgan Lewis, meanwhile, secured a tie-up with 80-lawyer firm Stamford Law as it aimed at building an Asia-Pacific disputes ‘powerhouse’.
RSA MOVES INTO LEGAL SERVICES WITH ABS
RSA became the latest insurer to gain an alternative business structure licence launching a joint venture with Parabis Law. RSA Law will be headed by seconded Parabis lawyer Allison Kemp and will provide a range of legal services.